Executive Chef Daisuke Kunii, middle, replaced Executive Chef Masaki Horie, middle (back row), 2 years ago. The exact number of employees in this photo is 20 and the exact number of those who left for good is also 20. Back row, from right, Jess David, Roberto Hernandez, Edwin Acuyan, Horie, Marylin Alonzo, Leizl Michael, Allain Natividad, Elizalde Madrinan, ? , Rusty Bautista.
Front row, (from left) ?, Allan Malonzo, Jovy Rodriguez, Chef Kunii, Ivy, ?, ?. Jackie, Fe Bruto and ? (? means I forgot their name)
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
FAREWELL TO
EXECUTIVE CHEF DAISUKE KUNII,
THE OPPOSITE OF CHEF HORIE
IN HIS last day of work at Palau Royal Resort on Sept. 03, 2015, Executive Chef Daisuke Kunii, as he usually do, will clap very loud all by himself after I finished the song that I'm playing, whether Japanese, Chinese, Filipino or American song. This time he is hiding at the service counter of Waves Restaurant.
It became contagious as the guests of different nationality but mostly Taiwanese/Chinese, also applauded. He is doing that many times almost every night especially when there are many guests. Sometimes, he is the only who will clap.
This time, when the crowd started to applause, I started to play almost all-Taiwanese/Chinese songs. Chef Kunii did a good job in getting their attention by his "bait" applause.
The group of mostly Taiwanese guys started to sing Taiwanese songs. One of them came to me and asked for songbook of Taiwanese songs. I gave him one book and he asked, "Do we need to order the songs?" As if he is ordering food or drink. I just said, "You choose there and tell me the title and I'll play it for you."
While they are singing "Grandma's Penghu Bay", the volume of their singing becomes loud. The other 4 tables with Taiwanese ladies also enjoyed hearing their native tongue songs.
Food and Beverage New Manager (January 2015) Mervin Cuyugan, signaled to me to lower the tone, and one song only. I keep on playing Taiwanese songs but not upbeat tempo. Then the guy who asked for songbook put on the piano's music stand a song written not by notes but by numbers... 1 for do (or C), 2 for D, 3 for E, 4 for F, 5 for G, etc.
When he sings it, it is the most popular Chinese song! --Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin. I've played it already but when I play it again, everybody sings.
Then a guy puts $10.00 on top of the piano. They sung 2 more songs and after 10 minutes, they go back to their hotel rooms.
There's a lone Palau lady who looks like very serious and no reaction from the group who are singing.
Before going home, she comes to me and she ask some questions about teaching her music lessons. She also requested a song from Richard Clayderman and I played "Ballade Pour Adeline". I gave her my card and she gave me $5.00 tip. As usual, I forgot again to ask her name.
I proceed to Breeze Bar for another 2 hours of keyboard music. At about 10:30, a honeymooners from New York, USA sat in front of the keyboard (about 2 feet). I asked them if they would like to request, and their first request is Eleonor Rigby by The Beatles.
I followed it up with Let It Be and in between my playing, I will tell them stories and when it's almost 11pm, (closing time), I announced last 2 songs.
After finishing the songs, I said to them that the music will stop, but the bar will closed at 12mn and that I can sit with them and talk.
The lady gave me $5.00 and the guy (originally from Poland) gave me half glass of local draft Red Rooster beer.
We talked for about 20 minutes with most of our talking were focused on my trips to Australia, Russia, Turkey and Norway to represent Palau in Oceania Zonal Chess Championship and 2010, 2012 and 2014 World Chess Olympiad.
AS THE TITLE OF THIS ARTICLE SAID, CHEF KUNII IS THE OPPOSITE OF FORMER EXECUTIVE CHEF HORIE IS AS MUCH AS MUSIC IN CONCERNED.
Chef Horie tried and forced me not to play Japanese, Chinese and Palauan songs.
CHEF KUNII IS THE OPPOSITE.
Chef Horie don't like singing, CHEF KUNII IS THE OPPOSITE.
HERE ARE SOME ARTICLES SHOWING THE OTHER SIDE OF EACH OTHER...
In 2005, I've met a perfectionist girl (Jasmine Yano). On Feb. 24, 2015, I've met a music genius 5-year-old Taiwanese girl, whom I don't even know her name. She amazes me with her knowledge of old Taiwanese songs (1960's-1970's). I will not let go this chance to have a photo with her. If trained properly, she will be a musical icon. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
THIS 5-YEAR-OLD TAIWANESE GIRL
IS A MUSIC GENIUS
After finishing the song that I'm playing then, I followed it up with the most popular Taiwanese song "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin" which I know, that even kids of her age know it.
To my surprise, she is not much familiar with it even I am singing it. But when I play "Ye Lai Xiang", she is singing with it -- and in the right key or tone.
I played all Taiwanese songs since then and she can sing or hum it if she don't know the lyrics and always in the right key or tone like "Grandma's Penghu Bay", "Heart of the Bloom", Nu Ren Hua, Lan Hua Cao, Cicadas of Autumn and Tian Mi Mi. Those songs are as old as 1960's and 1970's.
I gave her my card and she showed it to her father. When he sits beside her, I played the "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin" again and he helps her sing with it.
I resume playing all-Taiwanese songs again and she still can sing or hum with it. I REALIZED THEN THAT THIS GIRL IS A MUSIC/SINGING GENIUS!
I don't like to let this chance go without having a photo with her so I ask Pam, Restaurant Supervisor, to take these photos.
Later, I asked Executive Chef Daisuke Kunii to have also photos with the girl so that I can feature her in Tia Belau Newspaper someday even if it's a Chess Mate article like what I did to Uehara family in July 2014 before going to 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway.
The Uehara family came to Palau
Royal Resort again on March 29, 2014. They have this photo with new Executive
Chef Daisuke Kunii. Roberto asked them to come back to Palau again in July,
before leaving for Norway for the 2014 World Chess Olympiad. The Uehara family
comes to Palau at least 4 times a year. They missed the New Year’s Eve
Countdown because PRR was fully booked at that time. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez- Taken by Edwin Acuyan)
EFFECTIVE OCT. 15, 2015
PALAU RETIREMENT AGE IS
62 YEARS
ON JUNE 10, 2014, Roberto Hernandez went to the Social Security
Administration office to check his INDIVIDUAL WAGE HISTORY With Taxes Paid.
He was informed that the retirement age will be 62 years
effective Oct. 15, 2015. HE WILL MISS IT BY 2 AND A HALF MONTHS!
He will be 60 years old on Jan. 02, 2016. He has to wait for
another 2 years and 2 months to get his pension in 2018.
The bold figures indicate that his former employer for 13 years,
Margarita Borja Dalton, didn't post Social Security payments from 1998-2003 (6
years).
Those 6 years of unpaid dues will really affect his future pension.
The Administrator is in a very important meeting at that time so he was not
able to talk to him.
Eight days later, he was able to talk to the Administrator, Mr.
John Markub, who also said that the non-payment of Margie will really
affect his pension and that he talked to her already about it and they agreed
that Margie will try her best to settle the non-posted wages even by installment.
Thirty eight (38) total quarters must be posted to be eligible
for Social Security pension. Roberto got 56, not including the 23 that Margie
hadn't posted.
Roberto got 2 quarters from
Elena Sings, his first employer in Palau from Feb. 04-July 26, 1992. After
that, he worked for 13 years to Margarita Borja Dalton under Micronesian
Business Design dba Image Restaurant and got 22 quarters from 1992-1997.
He’s got 2 quarters from Teppan
Dragon Japanese Restaurant in 2006 and another 3 quarters at Donburi Dragon in
2006-2007.
And finally, he’s got 28 quarters
from JAL HOTELS CO., LTD-PALAU (Palau Royal Resort) from June 01, 2007-Present.
The 9 members of Palau Chess
Team to 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway had a meeting at Bethlehem
Park on June 16 at 5:30 pm.
They agreed to apply by group in
acquiring Schengen visa because it’s more convenient. They will leave on July
15 and will go to the Royal Norwegian Embassy on July 17 for interview and
finger printing. They will buy also travel insurance along the perimeter of the
embassy. It must cover at least 30,000 euros and the cost is about $150.00.
Cyril’s wife and 2 kids had gone
already for vacation in June 13 while Gladys left on June 17, a day after the
meeting. The renting of hotel/rooms was cancelled and all members will stay in
Manila for at least a couple of days.
Cyril will stay with Roberto for
2 days before they proceed to their respective provinces. Bernard is having
second thoughts and might apply individually. He and Roberto got their Verification
of Deposit Notice, one of the requirements in getting Schengen visa on
Thursday, June 19.
Solution to last week’s puzzle:
1. …Qf1+!! 2. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 3. Kg2 Nxe3 mate.
This week’s puzzle: Black to
move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)
Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 9
Volume 23
Issue 50
June 23, 2014
THIS POST HAD ONE INTERESTING COMMENT ABOUT SOMEONE LOOKING FOR MY EMPLOYER OF 13 YEARS --- MARGARITA BORJA DALTON....
johnnyjwoodsJuly 17, 2014 at 10:07 PM
Hi,
I was searching for an email address to contact you in private but I
cannot find one anywhere on your website. I was hoping that you could
help me find someone. My name is Johnny Woods. My mother passed away
four years ago and her best friend was Margie Dalton. I have been
searching in vain for a way to contact her. I grew up knowing her as my
"Aunt Margie". I recently did a search on Google and that is what led me
to your site. The picture you have listed of her is just as I remember
her the last time she visited my mother in Florida before she passed.
If you have any information on how I can contact her I would greatly
appreciate it. You can email me at any time at pncldrwng@aol.com or at
wjohn40@ymail.com . Thank you very much for your time, Johnny Woods
Chef Kunii gave her his card also.
During the girl's singing, she took another card of mine from the right side of the piano, a different and older print of it...
THIS IS A DIFFERENT STORY OF HOW TO INSPIRE PARENTS WITH THEIR KIDS’ MUSIC STUDY –
I wrote a letter (handwritten) to Jasmine Yano’s parents, Dr. Victor Yano and Jennifer Sugiyama after teaching her the song “Soccer Is My Favorite”.
Dear Dr. and Mrs. Victor Yano,
I haven’t met a perfectionist child before until when I teach Jasmine piano the song “Soccer Is My Favorite”. We started slowly and whenever she makes a mistake, she had to repeat it again from the beginning of the song.
It happened twice that she misses the last note of the song so she had to start over again. I didn’t hear any complain from her or show any sign of fatigue until she finally played the whole song without a single mistake.
We even exceed our
time by 10 minutes. After 70 minutes of amusement to her perfectionist
character, all I can give her is a tap on her shoulder for a very well job
done.
With this character of her, I think that she will excel in whatever field she will take in the future.
Best regards,
Roberto
Sources: Music and Me
By Roberto Hernandez
July 2014 - March 2015
Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
To be published as a book in the future
The Japanese guy in this photo is impressed with the way Roberto Hernandez is playing piano without sight of music notes or score. He can only play when there's a music score in front of him. Hernandez uses scores only when he don't know the melody of a song. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
MUSIC CONTROL
ON JULY 24, 2012, a lot of firsts
have happened to my music career:
While playing piano at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort, a Taiwanese guy with his teen-age son asked me if I can let his son play ONE song for the newly-wed Taiwanese couple next to their table.
I
let him play ONE song and the newly-wed couple came near the piano with the guy
taking video of the boy. After ONE song, they requested him to play another
one, this time it’s a classical piece. He’s good and plays with expression
already at his young age.
In the middle of the 2nd song, Chef Masaki Horie came very close to me and firmly said, “Enough!”
After the 2nd song,
back to ‘normal’ again but before playing my 3rd song, Chef Horie
ordered me to sign a newly printed “PIANIST GUIDELINES” that said—DON’T PLAY
TAIWANESE AND JAPANESE MUSIC -- DON’T
SING WITH THE SONG YOU PLAY ---DON’T
PLAY GUESTS REQUEST BECAUSE THEY’RE GOING TO SING ALONG WITH IT ---DON’T LET GUESTS PLAY THE PIANO.
FAILURE
TO FOLLOW YOU WILL BE GIVEN CORRESPONDING PUNISHMENT.
PREPARED
BY: CHEF HORIE MASAKI (Signed) 7.24.12
ACKNOWLEDGE
BY: ROBERT HERNANDEZ
When
I signed it, I asked him if I can have a copy so that I can show to guests who
are requesting that GUIDELINES. Five minutes later, I’ve got a copy with his 2nd
signature and date 7.24.12 that says “get signature from Robert”.
Another 5 minutes later, a young American lady showed me a list of her requested songs “Pick 2, your choice” –“Sound of Silence” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkel; “Unchained Melody” by Righteous Brothers; “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)” by Bryan Adams and “With Or Without You” by U2.
Chef Horie is looking at us when I showed her the Guidelines. It’s the first test that I’m following it.
She said, “DON’T PLAY TAIWANESE
AND JAPANESE SONGS –but my requests are American songs.”
I said, “I know all of your requests, not only 2 of my choice. I will play all of it but please don’t sing along with it.” I was able to play all her requests without Chef Horie’s knowledge.
After
playing the 5th one, I followed it up with another Simon and
Garfunkel song “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” and she comes again to me and said,
“I like also the one you’re playing now. Can I give you tip?”
She
thought giving tip to me is also prohibited. I said it is okay and she gave me
$5.00 in new single dollar bills. And I played some more songs of Simon and
Garfunkel.
Then our VIP and regular guests, Mr. Uehara and his family came a few minutes later. The last time that they’ve been at PRR was in March 22-25, 2012 where they gave me $10.00 on 3 occasions –March 22, 24 and 25. It’s my day off on the 23rd.
Chef
Horie leads them to their table but he is not around when they requested Disney
movies songs, Carpenters and Beatles songs. Mr. Uehara gave me $20.00 each this
time on 3 consecutive nights.
He
said they will be back again in Palau in January 2013. He asked me also what
date I’m going to Istanbul for the 2012 World Chess Olympiad.
I mentioned to him in March 25, 2012 to please come again to Palau before August 27-September 10, 2012 because I’m not at PRR on that date till September 14, 2012.
The
boy’s father approached me again before 9 pm. He wants his son to play another
ONE. I said to him, “You said before, only ONE song. Because of that extra
song, this GUIDELINE is issued just now.” And when he read the part “DON’T LET
GUESTS PLAY THE PIANO”, he didn’t insist anymore.
When
Tonet Medilo read the guidelines, she asked me some questions that either me
can’t answer—Why is he trying to control your music? Is he jealous that you are
making money from tips? But you’re not forcing them to give you tips. It’s from
their heart because they enjoy your music. Isn’t he happy that guests are
enjoying your music? Is he jealous also of your popularity? Do you ever get
complaint because of playing so-so music?
Even with a small problem like this, I usually ask for God’s help to clear the minds of people who are giving me hard time because I’m doing my job. Maybe it’s HIS way so that I can adapt some popular Japanese and Taiwanese songs into gospel songs to praise HIM! PRAISE THE LORD! GLORY TO GOD!
Source: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 8-9
Volume 21
Issue 52
August 02, 2012
Mr.
Uehara, right, came with his family the night that Chef Horie is trying
to take control of the kind of music he wants me to play. JEALOUSY?
Maybe.
Sources: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
To be published as a book in the future
Music and Me
By Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
March 2012-April 2014
http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
April 2013-Septebmer 2015
